Hand-Held Sanding Machine

ABSTRACT

A hand-held sanding machine includes at least one sanding device for receiving or configuring a sanding apparatus. The sanding device includes at least one fan for conveying away material subtracted in a sanding procedure, at least one drive device for driving the sanding device, and at least one connecting housing unit which at least partially receives the sanding device. An internal wall of the connecting housing unit that delimits a fan receptacle region is configured for guiding an air flow generated by the fan. The internal wall is funnel-shaped about a rotation axis of a driveshaft of the drive device.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to applicationno. DE 10 2020 213 229.1, filed on Oct. 20, 2020 in Germany, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A hand-held sanding machine having at least one sanding device forreceiving or configuring a sanding means, wherein the sanding devicecomprises at least one fan for conveying away material subtracted in asanding procedure, having at least one drive device for driving thesanding device and having at least one connecting housing unit which atleast partially receives the sanding device, has already been proposedin US 2016/0184963 A1.

SUMMARY

The disclosure proceeds from a hand-held sanding machine having at leastone sanding device for receiving or configuring a sanding means, whereinthe sanding device comprises at least one fan for conveying awaymaterial subtracted in a sanding procedure, having at least one drivedevice for driving the sanding device and having at least one connectinghousing unit that at least partially receives the sanding device.

It is proposed that an internal wall of the connecting housing unit thatdelimits a fan receptacle region is configured for guiding an air flowgenerated by the fan, said internal wall being funnel-shaped about arotation axis of a driveshaft of the drive device. The hand-held sandingmachine is preferably able to be held with one hand, in particularwithout a transporting and/or holding device, and is in particular ableto be guided and operated by the same hand during a sanding procedure.The hand-held sanding machine can be configured as a random orbitalsander, a positively-driven random orbital sander, as an orbital sander,as a triangular orbital sander, as a polisher, or the like. The sandingmeans can be configured, for example, as a sanding paper, as a sandingsponge block, as a non-open sanding fabric, as a woven sanding fabric,as a polishing sponge, as a scrubbing disk, as a polishing mop, or thelike. The sanding device comprises in particular at least one sandingpad having a flat base area which is in particular at leastsubstantially perpendicular to the rotation axis and which is providedfor fastening the sanding means. “Provided” here is in particular to beunderstood as being specially specified, specially programmed, speciallyconceived and/or specially equipped. An object being provided for aspecific function is in particular to be understood to mean that theobject fulfils and/or carries out this specific function in at least oneapplication state and/or operating state. The term “substantiallyperpendicular” here is intended to define in particular an alignment ofa direction relative to a reference direction, wherein the direction andthe reference direction, in particular when viewed in a projectionplane, enclose an angle of 90°, and the angle has a maximum deviation ofin particular less than 8°, advantageously less than 5°, andparticularly advantageously less than 2°.

The drive device is preferably disposed in a drive housing of thehand-held sanding machine. The connecting housing unit is disposed onthe drive housing in particular in the direction of the rotation axis.The connecting housing unit and the drive housing can be configured soas to be mutually separate or integral. The fan received by theconnecting housing unit, in the direction of the rotation axis, ispreferably disposed between the sanding pad and the drive device. Thefan is preferably aligned so as to be coaxial with the driveshaft.Alternatively, the fan is aligned so as to be coaxial with an eccentricaxis of the sanding device. The fan can be disposed directly on thedriveshaft, or be connected to the driveshaft by means of a separatelyconfigured transmission element, so as to be driven by the driveshaft. Amaximum extent of the connecting housing unit parallel to the rotationaxis preferably extends completely across a maximum extent of the fan,said maximum extent being parallel to said rotation axis. The connectinghousing unit in particular delimits the fan receptacle region at leastin a plane that is perpendicular to the rotation axis. The fanreceptacle region in the direction of the rotation axis is delimited atleast by the drive housing, the sanding pad and/or the connectinghousing unit. A maximum transverse extent of the fan receptacle regionperpendicular to the rotation axis is preferably smaller than themaximum transverse extent of the sanding pad perpendicular to therotation axis. A sanding ring which is fastened to the connectinghousing unit, is in particular press-fitted in a groove, and bears onthe sanding pad is preferably disposed between the connecting housingunit and the sanding pad. The connecting housing unit has in particularan air inlet which is disposed on a base portion of the connectinghousing unit that faces the sanding pad. A transmission of the sandingdevice that connects the sanding pad to the driveshaft preferablyprotrudes through the air inlet. A geometric central axis of a wall ofthe connecting housing unit that delimits the air inlet is preferablydisposed so as to be coaxial with the rotation axis. The connectinghousing unit preferably has an ejection port, in particular forconnecting to a material collection device and/or a suctioning device,said ejection port having an outlet opening by means of which theejection port is fluidically connected to the fan receptacle region. Thefan is in particular provided for generating an air flow from the airinlet through the connecting housing unit to the ejection port, said airflow entraining the subtracted material. The fan is preferablyconfigured as a radial fan. The fan has in particular a blade assemblywhich faces the air inlet. The fan has in particular a base plate towhich the blade assembly is fastened and which faces the drive device.

A receptacle radius of the fan receptacle region describes in particulara spacing of the internal wall of the connecting housing unit from therotation axis, said spacing being in a direction perpendicular to therotation axis. The receptacle radius of the funnel-shaped fan receptacleregion on the base plate of the fan is preferably larger than at the airinlet. The receptacle radius of the funnel-shaped fan receptacle region,proceeding from the air inlet, preferably widens in the direction of therotation axis, in particular up to the base plate of the fan. Thereceptacle radius of the funnel-shaped fan receptacle region at the baseplate of the fan in particular has a maximum, in particular irrespectiveof the outlet opening. The maximum of the receptacle radius of the fanreceptacle region, said maximum being spaced apart in particular fromthe outlet opening, is in particular at least 10%, preferably more than15%, particularly preferably more than 20%, larger than a value of thereceptacle radius at the air inlet. An opening width of the air inlet ispreferably smaller than the receptacle radius of the fan receptacleregion at the air inlet. The base portion has in particular a surfacethat faces the fan and runs so as to be at least substantiallyperpendicular to the rotation axis and in particular delimits the airinlet. Proceeding from the base portion, the receptacle radiuspreferably increases continuously along the rotation axis, in particularwithout jumps and/or in a monotonous manner, optionally in a strictlymonotonous manner, in particular irrespective of the outlet opening. Aderivative of the receptacle radius in terms of a position along therotation axis may be consistent or have jumps. The fan receptacle regionon the side of the maximum of the receptacle radius that faces away fromthe air inlet decreases, in particular so as to adapt to a cross sectionof the connecting housing unit perpendicular to the rotation axis to across section of a portion of the drive housing that faces theconnecting housing unit.

As a result of the design embodiment according to the disclosure, theconnecting housing unit can be advantageously adapted to an air flowgenerated by the fan, said air flow comprising a component parallel tothe rotation axis and the component about the rotation axis. The air canin particular configure an advantageously stable turbulence about therotation axis. A deflection of the air flow can in particular be keptadvantageously low. The probability of local turbulences arising can inparticular be kept advantageously low. The risk of material beingdeposited in portions of the fan receptacle region that are exposed to aminor flow can in particular be kept advantageously low. Anadvantageously effective separation of the subtracted material can inparticular be achieved. A maintenance and cleaning interval of thehand-held sanding machine can in particular be kept advantageouslylarge.

It is furthermore proposed that the connecting housing unit comprises aconical spiral path which is disposed on the internal wall, running inparticular from an air inlet, in particular the already mentioned airinlet of the connecting housing unit in the direction of the rotationaxis to an ejection port, in particular the already mentioned ejectionport of the connecting housing unit. It is conceivable that thehand-held sanding machine in an alternative design embodiment isconfigured independently of the funnel-shaped design embodiment of thefan receptacle region. The hand-held sanding machine in the alternativedesign embodiment, in particular in the design embodiment configuredindependently of the funnel-shaped design embodiment of the fanreceptacle region, preferably comprises at least the sanding device forreceiving or configuring the sanding means, wherein the sanding devicecomprises at least the fan for conveying away material subtracted in asanding procedure, the drive device for driving the sanding device, andthe connecting housing unit which at least partially receives thesanding device. The receptacle radius, at least in the region of thespiral path, is in particular dependent on the angular position of saidreceptacle radius in terms of a rotation about the rotation axis. Theconical spiral path is in particular a face which is delimited by atleast one conical spiral, preferably by a conical spiral and an arcwhich is concentric with the conical spiral. The angular positionrelates in particular to an angle which lies in a plane perpendicular tothe rotation axis. The receptacle radius is in particular a function ofan angular difference between the angular position of the receptacleradius and an angular reference. The angular reference is in particulardisposed at the outlet location, in particular on a separation edgewhich is formed by the ejection port and the internal wall of theconnecting housing unit. The receptacle radius in the region of thespiral path preferably has the lowest value at the separation edge. Thereceptacle radius in the region of the spiral path, proceeding from theseparation edge about the rotation axis, preferably increases in amonotonous, optionally strictly monotonous manner, in particular in aclockwise manner or a counter-clockwise manner when viewed in adirection onto the sanding pad. The spiral path in a projection alongthe rotation axis preferably has the shape of an arithmetic spiral,alternatively a logarithmic spiral, a hyperbolic spiral, or any otherspiral shape. The spiral path preferably comprises less than onewinding. The spiral path preferably comprises more than a quarterwinding, in particular half a winding or more. The spiral path, in adirection pointing away from the outlet opening, particularly extendsfrom the separation edge up to a beginning of the outlet opening that isopposite the separation edge. For example, in a semi-monocoqueconstruction of the connecting housing unit, the spiral path can beconfigured in only one of the primary shells, or in both primary shells,of the connecting housing unit. A product calculated from a pitch of thespiral path and the number of windings of the spiral path corresponds atleast substantially to in particular more than ⅓, preferably more than⅔, of the maximum extent of the blade assembly of the fan parallel tothe rotation axis. The spiral path, in a direction parallel to therotation axis, at least proceeding from a terminal plane of the bladeassembly that faces the sanding pad, extends in particular up to theoutlet opening. As a result of the design embodiment according to thedisclosure, a movement of the air flow from the sanding pad in thedirection away from the rotation axis can be advantageously facilitated.The formation of a turbulence about the rotation axis toward the outletopening can in particular be advantageously facilitated.

It is furthermore proposed that the internal wall is segmented in thedirection of the rotation axis, wherein an outlet opening, in particularthe already mentioned outlet opening, of an ejection port, in particularof the already mentioned ejection port of the connecting housing unit,and an air inlet, in particular the already mentioned air inlet of theconnecting housing unit, are disposed in different segments of theinternal wall. It is conceivable that the hand-held sanding machine inan alternative design embodiment is configured independently of thefunnel-shaped design embodiment of the fan receptacle region and/or ofthe conical spiral path. The hand-held sanding machine in thealternative design embodiment, in particular in the design embodimentconfigured independently of the funnel-shaped design embodiment of thefan receptacle region and/or of the conical spiral path, preferablycomprises at least the sanding device for receiving or configuring thesanding means, wherein the sanding device comprises at least the fan forconveying away material subtracted in a sanding procedure, the drivedevice for driving the sanding device, and the connecting housing unitwhich at least partially receives the sanding device. The outlet openingis in particular disposed in an ejection segment of the connectinghousing unit. The internal wall in the ejection segment preferably runso as to be at least substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis.The connecting housing unit preferably comprises at least one guidingsegment which in the direction of the rotation axis is disposed betweenthe ejection segment and the base portion. The guiding segmentconfigures in particular the conical spiral path. The internal wall inthe guiding segment runs in particular at an acute angle in relation tothe rotation axis. The connecting housing unit preferably comprises atleast one further guiding segment which is disposed between the guidingsegment and the base portion. The internal wall in a further guidingsegment has in particular an angle in relation to the rotation axis thatis larger than the angle of the guiding segment in relation to therotation axis. As a result of the design embodiment according to thedisclosure, the internal wall can be adapted in an advantageouslyaccurate manner to a geometry of the fan. In particular, a spacing ofthe internal wall from the fan, and in particular a flow resistancethrough the connecting housing unit, can be established in anadvantageously accurate manner. A primary flow direction through theconnecting housing unit can in particular be defined as a result. Alocal formation of turbulence can in particular be kept advantageouslylow. The connecting housing unit can in particular be keptadvantageously compact.

It is furthermore proposed that a separation edge formed by an outletopening, in particular by the already mentioned outlet opening, of anejection port, in particular of the already mentioned ejection port ofthe connecting housing unit, said separation edge hereunder beingreferred to as a further separation edge for reasons of differentiation,run so as to be at least substantially perpendicular to the rotationaxis. The further separation edge separates in particular the guidingsegment from the ejection segment. The further separation edge in aplane parallel to the rotation axis preferably has a material-proximalangle which is obtuse, being in particular more than 100°, preferablymore than 110°, particularly preferably more than 115°. The furtherseparation edge in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotationaxis preferably runs so as to be curved about the rotation axis,preferably in the shape of an arc. The further separation edge ispreferably disposed in a plane which runs between the terminal plane ofthe blade assembly and the base plate of the fan. Alternatively, thefurther separation edge is disposed in the terminal plane of the bladeassembly, or between the terminal plane and the sanding pad. As a resultof the design embodiment according to the disclosure, a proportion ofthe subtracted material can advantageously be filtered, said proportionhaving a velocity component in a direction facing away from the sandingpad. The material dispatched through the ejection port has in particularan advantageously highly homogenous distribution of velocity. The riskof the material being deposited on an internal wall of the ejection portcan in particular be kept advantageously low.

It is furthermore proposed that a separation edge, in particular thealready mentioned separation edge, formed by an outlet opening, inparticular by the already mentioned outlet opening of an ejection port,in particular of the already mentioned ejection port of the connectinghousing unit, and running so as to be substantially parallel to therotation axis is configured so as to be highly tapered and to have acurvature radius of less than 10 mm. The curvature radius is preferablysmaller than 3 mm, particularly preferably smaller than 2 mm. Thecurvature radius is preferably larger than 1 mm. the curvature radius ofthe separation edge lies in particular in a plane that is at leastsubstantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. The curvature radiusof the separation edge, in particular independently of an exact shapingof the separation edge, describes a smallest imaginary circle whichbears on the internal wall that faces the fan as well as on an internalwall of the ejection port. Tangents that bear on the internal wall andthe internal wall of the ejection port, in a plane perpendicular to therotation axis, preferably enclose an angle between 45° and 65°,preferably between 55° and 60°. As a result of the design embodimentaccording to the disclosure, the air flow can be advantageously directedin an effective manner into the ejection port. An average dwell time ofthe material in the fan receptacle region can in particular be keptadvantageously short.

It is moreover proposed that at least one segment of the internal wall,in particular the segment of the internal wall that configures thealready mentioned spiral path, in particular the guiding segment, has anangle between 15° and 60°, in particular between 20° and 40°, inrelation to the rotation axis. The guiding segment preferably has anangle between 30° and 35° in relation to the rotation axis. The furtherguiding segment preferably has an angle between 50° and 75°, preferablybetween 55° and 65°, in relation to the rotation axis. The guidingsegment has in particular a base edge that faces the sanding pad and iscontiguous to the further guiding segment. The base edge preferably runsin a plane that is at least substantially parallel to the rotation axis.The base edge is preferably disposed so as to be circular about therotation axis. The guiding segment preferably has a guiding edge thatfaces the drive device. A spacing of the guiding edge from the baseedge, in particular parallel to the rotation axis and perpendicular tothe rotation axis, depends on the angular position of a point on theguiding edge. The spacing between the guiding edge and the base edgeincreases in particular in the circumferential direction in terms of therotation axis. A face which is disposed between the guiding edge and thebase edge configures in particular the conical spiral path. As a resultof the design embodiment according to the disclosure, a proportion offlow that is perpendicular to the rotation axis can be keptadvantageously low. An advantageously stable formation of a turbulenceabout the rotation axis and parallel to the rotation axis can inparticular be achieved.

It is furthermore proposed that a duct longitudinal axis of an ejectionport, in particular of the already mentioned ejection port of theconnecting housing unit, in a plane that is perpendicular to therotation axis, is aligned so as to be at an acute angle in relation to alongitudinal axis of the drive device. The longitudinal axis runs inparticular so as to be at least substantially perpendicular to therotation axis. The drive device, and in particular the entire hand-heldsanding machine, in the direction of the longitudinal axis, has inparticular a maximum longitudinal extent which is larger than an overallheight of the drive housing parallel to the rotation axis. Thelongitudinal axis and the rotation axis define in particular an assemblyplane in which assembly clamshells of the drive housing and/or of theconnecting housing unit are disposed on one another. The ductlongitudinal axis in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis has inparticular an acute angle in relation to the longitudinal axis, inparticular in relation to the assembly plane, said acute angle being inparticular between 30° and 60°, preferably between 40° and 50°,particularly preferably between 44° and 46°. The duct longitudinal axis,in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, preferably bearstangentially on an external contour of the fan. The duct longitudinalaxis, in a tangential plane of an external contour of the fan, runs inparticular in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis. An internalwall of the ejection port in the outlet region preferably continues thespiral path in a tangential manner and smoothly transitions to a profileparallel to the duct longitudinal axis. As a result of the designembodiment according to the disclosure, an inertia of the air flowrotating about the rotation axis and of the subtracted material can beadvantageously utilized for ejecting said air flow and said material outof the ejection port. A flow resistance of the ejection port can inparticular be kept advantageously small, and an advantageously highefficiency of the fan can be achieved. Moreover, a material collectioncontainer attached to the collection port can be disposed so as to beadvantageously spaced apart from the drive housing.

It is furthermore proposed that a duct longitudinal axis, in particularthe already mentioned duct longitudinal axis, of an ejection port, inparticular of the already mentioned ejection port of the connectinghousing unit, and the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis enclosean acute angle. The acute angle between the duct longitudinal axis andthe plane perpendicular to the rotation axis is in particular more than10°, preferably more than 15°, particularly preferably more than 20°.The acute angle between the duct longitudinal axis and the planeperpendicular to the rotation axis is preferably less than 50°, inparticular less than 40°, preferably less than 35°. The ejection porthas in particular an ejection opening for ejecting the subtractedmaterial. The duct longitudinal axis preferably runs so as to be atleast substantially perpendicular to the ejection opening. The ejectionport optionally flattens in the region of the outlet opening such that awall of the ejection duct that on the outlet opening faces the sandingpad in relation to the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis has alarger angle than the duct longitudinal axis. As a result of the designembodiment according to the disclosure, a movement of the air flow andof the subtracted material parallel to the rotation axis canadvantageously be used for said air flow and said material to be ejectedfrom the ejection port. A flow resistance of the ejection port can inparticular be kept advantageously small, and an advantageously highefficiency of the fan can be achieved. Moreover, a material collectioncontainer that is attached to the collection port can be disposed so asto be advantageously spaced apart from the sanding pad and in particularfrom a workpiece treated with the hand-held sanding machine such thatthe hand-held sanding machine is able to be used in an advantageouslyflexible manner in particular also on uneven surfaces or surfaces thatare difficult to access.

It is furthermore proposed that the connecting housing unit has at leasttwo primary shells which in an assembly plane, in particular the alreadymentioned assembly plane parallel to the rotation axis, at leastpartially encompass the fan. The air inlet is in particular smaller thana maximum transverse extent of the blade assembly perpendicular to therotation axis. The base portion is preferably disposed between the bladeassembly and the sanding pad. The further guiding segment is preferablyat least partially disposed between the fan and the sanding pad. The fanis preferably disposed between the base portion and an upper side of theconnecting housing unit that faces the drive housing. The upper side andthe base portion are in particular configured so as to be integral,encompassing the fan in a in particular U-shaped manner from a directionemanating so as to be perpendicular to the rotation axis. As a result ofthe design embodiment according to the disclosure, the fan receptacleregion can be advantageously accurately defined, and a pressure loss byway of the fan can be advantageously accurately designed. The fan can inparticular be advantageously operated in an efficient manner. An airflow with an advantageously high flow velocity can in particular beachieved. Assembling of the connecting housing unit can in particulartake place in an advantageously rapid manner. In particular, a number ofindividual parts which can be potentially moved in relation to oneanother by the air flow or set in vibration by the latter can be keptadvantageously low.

It is moreover proposed that the fan is asymmetrically configured forforming a transmission element of the sanding device. The fan configuresin particular an eccentric of the sanding device for driving the sandingpad. The fan has in particular an in particular solid, disk-shaped baseplate to which the blade assembly of the fan is fastened. The base platepreferably faces the drive device. The blade assembly of the fanpreferably faces the sanding pad. The fan as an eccentric particularlyhas a central shank which in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axisis surrounded by the blade assembly. The central shank is in particulardisposed on the base plate so as to be eccentric in relation to the baseplate. The driveshaft is in particular connected in a rotationally fixedmanner to the eccentric. The fan preferably has at least one fancounterbalance which is disposed within the blade assembly. The baseplate of the fan preferably has a depression which is disposed so as tobe offset in the direction of the rotation axis in relation to theremaining part of the base plate. The depression is in particularconfigured so as to be semi-annular. The depression and the fancounterbalance, in particular conjointly with part of the bladeassembly, are preferably disposed in the depression. The maximum extentof the blade assembly on the depression, parallel to the rotation axis,is preferably smaller than the maximum extent of the remaining part ofthe blade assembly parallel to the rotation axis, in particular suchthat the entire blade assembly of the fan comprises the common terminalplane perpendicular to the rotation axis. As a result of the designembodiment of the disclosure, the sanding device can be configured so asto be advantageously compact and with few components. An advantageouslysmall maximum extent of the sanding device and of the connecting housingunit parallel to the rotation axis can in particular be achieved.

It is furthermore provided that a blade assembly, in particular thealready mentioned blade assembly of the fan, has a chamfer which isdisposed so as to be transverse to the rotation axis and at leastsubstantially parallel to a segment of the internal wall, in particularthe further guiding segment. “Substantially parallel” here is inparticular meant to be an alignment in a direction relative to areference direction, in particular in a plane, wherein the direction inrelation to the reference direction has a deviation which is inparticular smaller than 8°, advantageously smaller than 5°, andparticularly advantageously smaller than 2°. The blade assembly tapersin particular in a direction pointing away from the rotation axis. Amaximum extent of a portion of the blade assembly that faces theinternal wall, in a direction parallel to the rotation axis, is inparticular smaller than the maximum extent of a portion of the bladeassembly that faces the rotation axis. The base plate preferably has anin particular annular peripheral region which is inclined in thedirection of the sanding pad, in particular in the direction opposite tothat of the chamfer. The chamfer preferably has an angle between 50° and75°, preferably between 55° and 65°, in relation to the rotation axis.As a result of the design embodiment according to the disclosure, anadvantageously high flow velocity through the fan can be maintained. Astatic pressure between the fan and the internal wall can in particularbe kept advantageously small.

The hand-held sanding machine according to the disclosure here is notintended to be limited to the application and embodiment describedabove. In particular, the hand-held sanding machine according to thedisclosure for fulfilling a functional mode described herein may have anumber of individual elements, components and units that deviate fromthe number of individual elements, components and units describedherein. Moreover, the ranges of values specified in this disclosure andvalues lying within said limits should be considered to be disclosed andable to be used in any desired manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages are derived from the description of the drawingshereunder. Four exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings.The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous featuresin combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently alsoconsider the features individually and combine said features so as toform expedient further combinations.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a hand-held sandingmachine according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the hand-held sanding machineaccording to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the hand-held sandingmachine according to the disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section of the hand-held sanding machineaccording to the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of the fastening of a connectinghousing unit of the hand-held sanding machine according to thedisclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross section of the connecting housing unit;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a material collectiondevice of the hand-held sanding machine according to the disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a schematic flow chart of a method according to thedisclosure for assembling the hand-held sanding machine according to thedisclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of an alternative designembodiment of a hand-held sanding machine according to the disclosurehaving an alternative drive device;

FIG. 10 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the alternative designembodiment;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a further alternative designembodiment of a hand-held sanding machine according to the disclosurehaving an alternative sanding device;

FIG. 12 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the furtheralternative design embodiment;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic illustration of an additional alternativedesign embodiment of a hand-held sanding machine according to thedisclosure having a further alternative sanding device; and

FIG. 14 shows a schematic longitudinal section of the additionalalternative design embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a hand-held power tool 118 a configured as a hand-heldsanding machine 10 a. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a is inparticular configured as a random orbital sander. The hand-held sandingmachine 10 a comprises a sanding device 12 a for receiving a sandingmeans 13 a. The sanding device 12 a comprises in particular a sandingpad 132 a which here, in an exemplary manner, is illustrated having adiameter of 125 mm. Alternatively, the sanding pad 132 a has a diameterof 150 mm, or any other diameter adapted to the size of the sandingmeans 13 a. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a comprises a drive device14 a for driving the sanding device 12 a (see FIG. 4), said drive device14 a defining in particular a rotation axis 24 a and about which thesanding pad 132 a is able to be driven, in particular an eccentricmanner. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a comprises a drive housing 16a which receives the drive device 14 a.

The drive housing 16 a has a longitudinal axis 92 a which runs so as tobe at least substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Thedrive housing 16 a preferably has two drive housing clamshells which aredisposed on one another in an assembly plane 50 a defined by thelongitudinal axis 92 a and the rotation axis 24 a (cf. FIG. 2). Thedrive housing 16 a comprises a longitudinal axis portion 90 a which isdisposed about the longitudinal axis 92 a. The longitudinal axis portion90 a is provided in particular for receiving a rechargeable battery pack138 a, in particular a 12V rechargeable battery pack. The drive housing16 a has a front portion 94 a. The front portion 94 a surrounds anintersection region of the rotation axis 24 a and of the longitudinalaxis 92 a. The front portion 94 a comprises a dome-shaped gripping area96 a. The gripping area 96 a is optionally configured as a softcomponent which is disposed on, in particular embedded in, a housingmain body of the drive housing 16 a. Alternatively, an external face ofthe housing main body of the drive housing 16 a configures the grippingarea 96 a. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a comprises at least oneactivation element 88 a for controlling the drive device 14 a, inparticular for switching on and switching off the drive device 14 a. Theactivation element 88 a is preferably configured so as to latch in theactivated state of the drive device 14 a. The activation element 88 a isdisposed in the gripping area 96 a. The activation element 88 a isdisposed on a side of a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis 92 a and comprises the rotation axis 24 a, said side facing awayfrom the longitudinal axis portion 90 a.

The hand-held sanding machine 10 a comprises an interface device 18 afor operatively connecting, in particular for coupling, the sandingdevice 12 a to the drive device 14 a. The interface device 18 a isdisposed on the front portion 94 a so as to be in particular along therotation axis 24 a. The interface device 18 a comprises at least oneconnecting housing unit 20 a for at least partially receiving thesanding device 12 a. The connecting housing unit 20 a is configured soas to be separate from the drive housing 16 a and the sanding device 12a. The connecting housing unit 20 a has at least two primary shells 46a, 48 a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a are disposed on one another inparticular in the assembly plane 50 a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a arepreferably made from plastics material. The primary shells 46 a, 48 apreferably have a wall thickness between 1 mm and 3.5 mm, preferablybetween 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm, particularly preferably between 1.9 mm and2.3 mm. The connecting housing unit 20 a comprises an ejection port 76a. The ejection port 76 a is in particular provided for ejectingmaterial abraded in a sanding process from the connecting housing unit20 a. The ejection port 76 a is preferably disposed on one of theprimary shells 46 a. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a comprises amaterial collection device 116 a. The material collection device 116 acomprises a preferably air-permeable material collection container 112 afor collecting material subtracted in an operation of the hand-heldsanding machine 10 a and in particular material ejected by way of theejection port 76 a, such as in particular dust, chips and/or abradedmaterial. In at least one configuration of the material collectioncontainer 112 a, a container longitudinal axis 114 a of the materialcollection container 112 a runs so as to be at least substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis 92 a of the drive housing 16 a. Thecontainer longitudinal axis 114 a is in particular configured as acontainer central axis which runs in particular through a geometriccenter of gravity of the material collection container 122 a.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the hand-held sanding machine 10 a along therotation axis 24 a. The drive housing 16 a, in the plane which isperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a and comprises the longitudinalaxis 92 a, on both sides has a convexity 102 a, 104 a. A ratio of amaximum convexity transverse extent 107 a from the convexity 102 a tothe convexity 104 a of the drive housing 16 a relative to a largestgripping area transverse extent 106 a of the front portion 94 a isbetween 0.75 and 0.9, in particular between 0.80 and 0.85. The largestgripping area transverse extent 106 a is preferably at the same time thelargest transverse extent of the drive housing 16 perpendicular to therotation axis 24 a and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 a. Thelargest gripping area transverse extent 106 a in comparison to anoverall height 54 a (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4) of the drive housing 16 a ispreferably between 0.8 and 0.95, in particular between 0.85 and 0.9. Thelargest gripping area transverse extent 106 a is preferably between 65mm and 85 mm, in particular between 70 mm and 80 mm. The overall height54 a of the drive housing 16 a parallel to the rotation axis 24 a is inparticular smaller than 95 mm, preferably smaller than 90 mm, inparticular smaller than 85 mm. A maximum machine height parallel to therotation axis 24 a of the hand-held sanding machine 10 a is particularlypreferably smaller than 115 mm, in particular smaller than 110 mm.

The gripping area 96 a of the drive housing 16 a, proceeding from thefront portion 94 a in the direction of the longitudinal axis 92 a,smoothly transitions to a constricted region 108 a of the longitudinalaxis portion 90 a, said constricted region 108 a being delimited by theconvexities 102 a, 104 a. A ratio of the maximum tapered transverseextent 110 a of the constricted region 108 a to the largest grippingarea transverse extent 106 a of the front portion 94 a is between 0.7and 0.85, in particular between 0.75 and 0.8. The gripping area 96 a ofthe drive housing 16 a extends from the front portion 94 a up to a planewhich is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 a and whichintersects the convexities 102 a, 104 a. Optionally, the gripping area96 a along the longitudinal axis 92 a extends beyond the convexities 102a, 104 a. A plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 aand intersects the convexities 102 a, 104 a, subdivides a maximumlongitudinal extent 111 a, 113 a of the drive housing 16 a at a ratiobetween 0.45 and 0.65. In particular, a ratio of a convexity position139 a of the plane intersecting the convexities 102 a, 104 a along thelongitudinal axis 92 a, proceeding from a most distal point of the frontportion 94 a, to the maximum longitudinal extent 111 a without therechargeable battery pack 138 a, is between 0.55 and 0.60. Inparticular, a ratio of a convexity position 139 a of the planeintersecting the convexities 102 a, 104 a along the longitudinal axis 92a, proceeding from a most distal point of the front portion 94 a, to themaximum longitudinal extent 113 a including the rechargeable batterypack 138 a, is between 0.5 and 0.55. In particular, the maximumlongitudinal extent 111 a, 113 a in the direction of the longitudinalaxis 92 a is larger than the overall height 54 a of the drive housing 16a.

The material collection container 112 a, in a plane perpendicular to therotation axis 24 a, is disposed so as to be spaced apart from thegripping area 96 a of the drive housing 16 a. In particular, thematerial collection container 112 a by means of a mounting unit 124 a ofthe material collection device 116 a is in particular disposed so as tobe freely suspended on the ejection port 76 a, in particular without anyfurther supporting elements. A transition between the mounting unit 124a and the material collection container 112 a is disposed in a planewhich is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 a and comprises theconstricted region 108 a. A duct longitudinal axis 84 a of the ejectionport 76 a of the connecting housing unit 20 a, in a plane perpendicularto the rotation axis 24 a, is aligned at an acute angle, preferablybetween 44° and 46°, in relation to the longitudinal axis 92 a. The ductlongitudinal axis 84 a is preferably configured as a duct central axiswhich runs in particular through a geometric center of gravity of theejection port 76 a. The hand-held sanding machine 10 a has an operatingelement 117 a, the latter being in particular different from theactivation element 88 a, for controlling the sanding device 12 a (cf.FIG. 1), for example for adapting a rotating speed of the sanding pad132 a. For example, the operating element 117 a is configured as acontrol dial. The operating element 117 a and the material collectioncontainer 112 a are disposed on different sides of the assembly plane 50a defined by the rotation axis 24 a and the longitudinal axis 92 a. Thedrive housing 16 a has a spacing from the material collection container112 a, said spacing being between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 15mm and 35 mm, particularly preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm. Theoperating element 117 a is preferably disposed in the constricted region108 a. The operating element 117 a and the activation element 88 a arepreferably disposed on different sides of a transverse plane 98 a whichis perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a and in which the frontportion 94 a has the largest gripping area transverse extent 106 a.

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of the hand-held sanding machine 10a in the assembly plane 50 a, and FIG. 4 shows a cross section of thehand-held sanding machine 10 a. The sanding device 12 a preferablycomprises an eccentric which is driven by a driveshaft 26 a. The sandingdevice 12 a preferably comprises an eccentric bearing 158 a which is inparticular configured as a ball bearing. Optionally, the eccentricbearing 158 a comprises a plurality of ball bearings which are inparticular stacked on one another along the rotation axis 24 a, or aball bearing having multiple rows, in particular two rows. The eccentricbearing 158 a is in particular disposed on the eccentric and encompassesthe eccentric preferably in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis24 a. The eccentric bearing 158 a is clamped to a shoulder of theeccentric in particular by means of mounting plate and a screw. Ageometric center of the eccentric bearing 158 a is in particulardisposed so as to be spaced apart from the rotation axis 24 a. Thesanding device 12 a comprises in particular an annular sanding padholder 156 a. The sanding pad holder 156 a is disposed on the eccentricbearing 158 a and preferably encompasses the latter in a planeperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. The sanding pad holder 156 apreferably has a groove in which the eccentric bearing 158 a isdisposed. The eccentric bearing is particularly preferably configured soas to be overmolded by the sanding pad holder 156 a. The sanding padholder 156 a is in particular rotatable relative to the eccentric. Thesanding pad 132 a is preferably fastened to the sanding pad holder 156a, in particular screw-fitted in a direction parallel to the rotationaxis 24 a. The sanding device 12 a particularly optionally comprises afan 66 a. The fan 66 a is in particular operated by the driveshaft 26 a.A blade assembly of the fan 66 a preferably surrounds the sanding padholder 156 a in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a, whereinthe sanding pad holder 156 a protrudes beyond the fan 66 a in adirection of the rotation axis 24 a. The sanding device 12 a preferablycomprises a sanding ring 154 a which is made of an elastic material andin a groove on the connecting housing unit 20 a is fastened in therotationally fixed manner to the connecting housing unit 20 a so as tobear in particular on the sanding pad 132 a, particularly in order tostabilize a rotating movement of the sanding pad 132 a.

The drive device 14 a preferably comprises an electric motor 134 a. Theelectric motor 134 a comprises in particular a nominal voltage of 12Volt. The drive device 14 a comprises the driveshaft 26 a which is inparticular driven about the rotation axis 24 a by the electric motor 134a. The drive device 14 a comprises in particular an electrical supplyinterface 136 a, in particular for connecting the rechargeable batterypack 138 a. The drive device 14 a preferably comprises at least oneelectronic control unit 140 a, in particular for controlling theelectric motor 134 a. The electric motor 134 a, the electronic controlunit 140 a and the electrical supply interface 136 a are in particulardisposed in this sequence along the longitudinal axis 92 a. The electricmotor 134 a is in particular disposed in the front portion 94 a. Theelectronic control unit 140 a is in particular disposed in theconstricted region 108 a. The electrical supply interface 136 a is inparticular disposed in the longitudinal axis portion 90 a. Thedriveshaft 26 a, preferably proceeding from the front portion 94 a,protrudes into the interface device 18 a.

The activation element 88 a is disposed on, in particular embedded in, apartial area of the gripping area 96 a, said partial area being disposedso as to be oblique in relation to the longitudinal axis 92 a and inrelation to the rotation axis 24 a. The partial area receiving theactivation element 88 a preferably has an angle between 40° and 50° inrelation to the longitudinal axis 92 a. A projection of the activationelement 88 a along the rotation axis 24 a has in particular no overlapwith the electric motor 134 a. The activation element 88 a and thesanding device 12 a are disposed on different sides of the transverseplane 98 a which is at least substantially perpendicular to the rotationaxis 24 a and in which the front portion 94 a has the largest grippingarea transverse extent 106 a. A volume of the electric motor 134 a tothe extent of in particular more than half, preferably more than 66%,particularly preferably more than 75%, is disposed on that side of thetransverse plane 98 a that is opposite the activation element 88 a. Avolume of a receptacle region of the electrical supply interface 136 afor receiving the rechargeable battery pack 138 a to the extent ofbetween preferably 40% and 60% is disposed on that side of thetransverse plane 98 a that is opposite the activation element 88 a. Thepartial area of the gripping area 96 a that surrounds the activationelement 88 a is in particular configured so as to be flattened in theassembly plane 50 a, in particular so as to be flat in sections. Thefront portion 94 a in the transverse plane 98 a preferably has acontinuously curved profile. Partial areas of the gripping area 96 a aremutually disposed at a front angle 142 a between 95° and 110°, one ofsaid partial areas surrounding the activation element 88 a and both saidpartial areas terminating the front portion 94 a along the longitudinalaxis 92 a. The front angle 142 a lies in particular in the assemblyplane 50 a. The partial areas that terminate the front portion 94 a arein particular disposed on different sides of the transverse plane 98 awhich has the largest gripping area transverse extends 106 a and runsperpendicularly to the rotation axis 24 a.

A ratio of the maximum gripping area height 100 a of the gripping area96 a that is parallel to the rotation axis 24 a to the overall height 54a of the drive housing 16 a, said overall height 54 a being parallel tosaid gripping area height 100 a, is preferably between and 0.65 and 0.8,preferably between 0.7 and 0.75. The gripping area 96 a in the directionof the rotation axis 24 a extends in particular up to an end of theelectric motor 134 a that faces the sanding device 12 a. The drivedevice 14 a preferably comprises a drive fan 64 a, in particular a motorfan, in particular for cooling the electric motor 134 a. The drive fan64 a is disposed on the rotation axis 24 a m between the electric motor134 a and the interface device 18 a. The gripping area 96 a in thedirection of the rotation axis 24 a preferably extends up to a fanportion 144 a of the drive housing 16 a, ventilation openings forsuctioning and/or exhausting air through by way of the drive fans 64 abeing disposed in said fan portion 144 a. The gripping area height 100 apreferably, in particular continuously, decreases in the direction ofthe longitudinal axis 92 a (cf. also FIG. 5). The drive fan 64 a and thelongitudinal axis portion 90 a, are preferably, in particularcompletely, disposed on different sides of a plane that is perpendicularto the rotation axis 24 a. The front portion 94 a in the direction ofthe rotation axis 24 a preferably tapers toward the fan portion 144 a.In particular, the activation element 88 a along the longitudinal axis92 a protrudes at least partially beyond the fan portion 144 a. A unitformed from the drive housing 16 a and the connecting housing unit 20 aon the fan portion 144 a, between the activation element 88 a and thesanding device 12 a preferably has a cross section which isperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a and has the smallest surfacearea. In particular, the fan portion 144 a has a maximum transverseextent perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a which is less than 65 mm,preferably less than 60 mm, particularly preferably less than 55 mm.

The interface device 18 a has a docking interface 22 a which is disposedon the drive housing 16 a. The connecting housing unit 20 a encompassesthe docking interface 22 a in a fixing plane 27 a which is perpendicularto the rotation axis 24 a of the driveshaft 26 a of the drive device 14a. The docking interface 22 a in the fixing plane 27 a has at least oneaxial form-fitting element 28 a, 29 a, 30 a, 32 a for forming a form-fitwith the connecting housing unit 20 a, said form-fit being parallel tothe rotation axis 24 a. A projection of the axial form-fit element 28 a,29 a, 30 a, 32 a along the rotation axis 24 a lies at leastsubstantially completely in the interior of the drive housing 16 a. Thedocking interface 22 a comprises in particular a plurality of axialform-fitting elements 28 a, 29 a, 30 a, 32 a, the projections of thelatter along the rotation axis 24 a lying at least substantiallycompletely in the interior of the drive housing 16 a. In particular, aprojection of the entire docking interface 22 a lies at leastsubstantially completely in the interior of the drive housing 16 a. Thedocking interface 22 a is preferably disposed along the rotation axis 24a on the front portion 94 a. The fan portion 144 a is in particulardisposed between the front portion 94 a and the docking interface 22 a.The docking interface 22 a is preferably configured so as to bematerially integral to the drive housing 16 a. The entire height 54 a ofthe drive housing 16 a relates in particular to an extent parallel tothe rotation axis 24 a, said extent including the docking interface 22a.

The docking interface 22 a as an axial form-fitting element 30 a, 32 acomprises a fixing recess 34 a, 36 a. The fixing recess 34 a, 36 apreferably extends so as to be at least substantially parallel to thefixing plane 27 a. The fixing recess 34 a, 36 a is in particularprovided for receiving a fixing element 38 a, 40 a of the connectinghousing unit 20 a and a separately configured fixing element 42 a, 44 a.The fixing element 38 a, 40 a of the connecting housing unit 20 a isconfigured as a socket, particularly preferably as a screw dome. Thesocket is configured for receiving the separately configured fixingelement 42 a, 44 a. The separately configured fixing element 42 a, 44 ais preferably configured as a screw. The overall receiving length of thesocket corresponds in particular substantially, but in particular notcompletely, to a length of the separately configured fixing element 42a, 44 a. The socket comprises in particular two socket portions, one ofthe latter being in each case disposed on the two primary shells 46 a,48 a such that there is an air gap between the two socket portions. Inparticular, the primary shells 46 a, 48 a are fastened to the dockinginterface 22 a by tightening the separately configured fixing element 42a, 44 a so as to be tensioned in the socket. The separately configuredfixing element 42 a, 44 a engages in particular in the docking interface22 a, in particular through the latter. The docking interface 22 a inthe fixing plane 27 a preferably comprises at least two, in particularexactly two, exemplars of the fixing element 38 a, 40 a for each primaryshell 46 a, 48 a, and in particular at least two, in particular exactlytwo, exemplars of the separately configured fixing element 42 a, 44 awhich are in particular disposed on different sides of a plane which isperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 a and comprises the rotationaxis 24 a. The connecting housing unit 20 a optionally comprises atleast one additional fixing element 150 a, 152 a, which is provided forfastening the primary shells 46 a, 48 a to one another in a positionspaced apart from the fixing plane 27 a. The connecting housing unit 20a preferably comprises at least two additional fixing elements 150 a,152 a which are in particular disposed between the fixing plane 27 a, inparticular between an end of the docking interface 22 a that faces thesanding pad 132 a and the sanding pad 132 a. The additional fixingelements 150 a, 152 a are in particular configured as screws. Additionalfixing recesses of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a for receiving theadditional fixing elements 150 a, 152 a are preferably disposed in aplane parallel to the fixing plane 27 a, said plane having the largesttransverse extent of the connecting housing unit 20 a in the assemblyplane 50 a.

The docking interface 22 a as an axial form-fitting element 28 aperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a comprises a docking crosssection which along the rotation axis 24 a tapers in a direction whichpoints away from the sanding device 12 a and in particular leads to thefan portion 144 a. The fixing recess 34 a, 36 a is in particulardisposed between a maximum cross section of the docking interface 22 aperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a and a minimum cross section ofthe docking interface 22 a perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Thedocking interface 22 a preferably comprises a contact face 52 a which isformed by a surface of the docking interface 22 a that configures thetaper. The contact face 52 a particularly faces away from the sandingdevice 12 a and particularly faces the drive device 14 a. The primaryshells 46 a, 48 a on one of the respective internal wall thereof have inparticular a mating face which is complementary to the contact face 52a. The mating faces of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a are in particulardisposed on the contact face 52 a and are particularly preferablypressed onto the contact face 52 a in a planar manner by means of thefixing elements 42 a. The docking interface 22 a as an axial axialform-fitting element 29 a on a boundary face toward the drive housing 16a, in particular toward the fan portion 144 a, has a smaller crosssection than the drive housing 16 a, said boundary face being at leastsubstantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. A difference interms of the cross sections of the docking interface 22 a and of thedrive housing 16 a on the boundary face corresponds in particular to awall thickness of the connecting housing unit 20 a, said wall thicknessbeing in particular double said difference. A portion of the primaryshells 46 a, 48 a that configures the mating faces preferably extendsalong the contact face toward the boundary face. The connecting housingunit 20 a is disposed on the docking interface 22 a so as to be at leastsubstantially flush with the drive housing 16 a. The docking interface22 a, in particular the contact face 52 a, comprises at least 10% to 20%of the overall height 54 a of the drive housing 16 a including thedocking interface 22 a parallel to the rotation axis 24 a. A ratio of adocking height of the docking interface 22 a parallel to the rotationaxis 24 a to a maximum transverse extent, in particular a maximumdiameter, of the docking interface 22 a perpendicular to the rotationaxis is preferably between 0.1 and 0.3, preferably between 0.15 and 0.2.A ratio of the docking height of the docking interface 22 a parallel tothe rotation axis to a minimum transverse extent, in particular aminimum diameter, of the docking interface 22 a perpendicular to therotation axis 24 a is preferably between 0.15 and 0.35, preferablybetween 0.2 and 0.25. A spacing parallel to the rotation axis 24 abetween the maximum transverse extent and the minimum transverse extentof the docking interface 22 a perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a,preferably corresponds to at least 60%, preferably more than 75%, of thedocking height.

The contact face 52 a runs transversely to the fixing plane 27 a and isconfigured so as to be curved. The mating face has a curvature which iscomplimentary to that of the contact face 52 a. The curvature of thecontact face 52 a and in particular of the mating face are preferablyconfigured so as to be concave in terms of the rotation axis 24 a. Acurvature radius that describes the contact face 52 a, and in particularthe mating face, runs outside the docking interface 22 a and inparticular through the connecting housing unit 20 a. The curvatureradius is between 5 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 10 mm. Acurvature center associated with the curvature radius preferably liesoutside the connecting housing unit 20 a. The wall thickness of theconnecting housing unit 20 a along the curvature optionally decreases inthe direction of the drive housing 16 a. Alternatively, the wallthickness of the connecting housing unit 20 a is constant along thecurvature. The contact face 52 a preferably comprises a flat contactportion which continues the curvature of the docking interface 22 a in atangential manner in the direction of the sanding pad 132 a. The flatcontact portion of the contact face 52 a in relation to the fixing plane27 a in particular is inclined by an angle between 10° and 20° in thedirection of the sanding pad 132 a. A portion of the primary shells 46a, 48 a that configures the mating faces preferably extends beyond theflat contact portion, in particular at the same angle in relation to thefixing plane 27 a as the flat contact portion of the contact face 52 a.This extent of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a in this direction continuesin particular up to an end of the connecting housing unit 20 a, or up tothe additional fixing recesses or up to the ejection port 76 a. An upperside of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a that faces the drive device 14 aforms in particular a hand placing face which is inclined relative tothe sanding pad 132 a and in particular slopes downward from therotation axis 24 a toward the outside, said hand placing facefacilitating in particular a natural position of the hand when the thumband the index finger are disposed on different sides of the rotationaxis 24 a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a in the fixing plane 27 a aremutually aligned by means of at least an, in particular curved,tongue-and-groove connection 60 a, 62 a of the connecting housing unit20 a, said tongue-and-groove connection 60 a, 62 a preferably beingshaped so as be convex in terms of the rotation axis 24 a.

The interface device 18 a is disposed without one of the primary shells48 a in FIG. 5. The docking interface 22 a as a main body has inparticular a rotatory body in terms of the rotation axis 24 a.Alternatively, the main body of the docking interface 22 a is configuredso as to be elongate parallel to the longitudinal axis 92 a and has inparticular an elliptic or highly tapered cross section perpendicular tothe rotation axis 24 a. The docking interface 22 a has depressions whichare embedded in the main body, access ducts in particular for the socketof the primary shells 46 a, 48 a, and the separately configured fixingelement 42 a, 44 a and/or ventilation openings.

It can furthermore more be derived from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the interfacedevice 18 a comprises a transmission element 58 a. The transmissionelement 58 a of the interface device 18 a is in particular configured asan eccentric shank. The transmission element 58 a of the interfacedevice 18 a is preferably configured so as to be separate from the drivedevice 14 a and the sanding device 12 a. The transmission element 58 aof the interface device 18 a is preferably press-fitted on to thedriveshaft 26 a along the rotation axis 24 a, and is in particularconnected in the rotationally fixed manner to the driveshaft 26 a. Theeccentric, in particular conjointly with the already mentioned mountingplate, is preferably screwed to the transmission element 58 a of theinterface device 18 a, and is in particular connected in therotationally fixed manner to the transmission element 58 a of theinterface device 18 a. Alternatively, the transmission element 58 a isconfigured so as to be integral to the driveshaft 26 a or integral tothe eccentric of the sanding device 12 a. The docking interface 22 a inthe fixing plane 27 a encompasses a bearing element 56 a of the drivedevice 14 a, said bearing element 56 a being specified for rotatablymounting the transmission element 58 a of the interface device 18 a. Thedriveshaft 26 a along the rotation axis 24 a preferably extends into thebearing element 56 a, in particular through the bearing element 56 a.The transmission element 58 a in the fixing plane 27 a preferablysurrounds the driveshaft 26 a such that the driveshaft 26 a is inparticular not in direct contact with the bearing element 56 a. Thebearing element 56 a is in particular configured as a ball bearing. Thetransmission element 58 a of the interface device 18 a along therotation axis 24 a extends preferably through the bearing element 56 a.The transmission element 58 a of the interface device 18 a, for axiallyform-fitting to the bearing element 56 a along the rotation axis 24 a,on a side of the fixing plane 27 a that faces the drive device 14 acomprises in particular a larger maximum transverse extent perpendicularto the rotation axis 24 a as on a side of the fixing plane 27 a thatfaces the sanding device 12 a. The fan 66 a of the sanding device 12 ais preferably disposed on the transmission element 58 a of the interfacedevice 18 a, in particular so as to rotate centrically about therotation axis 24 a. The fan 66 a is not illustrated in FIG. 4 so as topermit a view onto an internal wall 70 a of the primary shells 46 a, 48a.

The fan 66 a is asymmetrically configured for forming a transmissionelement of the sanding device 12 a. The fan 66 a configures inparticular the eccentric. In particular, the fan 66 a has an inparticular solid disk-shaped base plate to which the blade assembly ofthe fan 66 a is fastened. The base plate preferably faces the dockinginterface 22 a and is in particular disposed in the same planeperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a as the additional fixingelements 150 a, 152 a. The blade assembly of the fan 66 a preferablyfaces the sanding pad 132 a. The fan 66 a as an eccentric has inparticular a central shank which in a plane perpendicular to therotation axis 24 a is surrounded by the blade assembly. The centralshank is in particular disposed on the base plate so as to be eccentricin relation to the base plate. The transmission element 58 a of theinterface device 18 a preferably engages in the central shank of the fan66 a and is in particular connected to the latter in the rotationallyfixed manner (cf. FIG. 6), said central shank configuring the eccentric.The fan 66 a preferably has at least one fan counterbalance 148 a whichis disposed within the blade assembly. The shape of the fancounterbalance 148 a is in particular adapted to a shape of the bladeassembly. The base plate of the fan 66 preferably has a depression 162 awhich in the direction of the rotation axis 24 a is disposed so as to beoffset in relation to the remaining part of the base plate. Thedepression 162 a is in particular configured so as to be semi-annular.The depression 162 a and the fan counterbalance 148 a, in particularconjointly with part of the blade assembly, are preferably disposed onthe depression 162 a. In a section of the fan 66 a along a planecomprising the rotation axis 24 a, the depression 162 a and the fancounterbalance 148 a are in particular disposed in a half of the fan 66a that comprises a smaller volumetric proportion of the central shankconfigured as the eccentric. A height of the blade assembly on thedepression 162 a, parallel to the rotation axis 24 a, is preferablysmaller than a height of the remaining part of the blade assembly, inparticular such that the entire blade assembly of the fan 66 a has acommon terminal plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. The drivefan 64 a of the drive device 14 a and the fan 66 a of the sanding device12 a in the direction of the rotation axis 24 a are disposed ondifferent sides of the axial form-fitting element 28 a, 29 a, 30 a, 32a. In particular, the docking interface 22 a at the boundary faceterminates a receptacle space of the drive housing 16 a in which thedrive fan 64 a is disposed. One end of the docking interface 22 a alongthe rotation axis 24 a delimits in particular a fan receptacle region 68a in which the fan 66 a is disposed.

The sanding device 12 a comprises the fan 66 a for conveying awaymaterial subtracted in a sanding procedure. The internal wall 70 a ofthe connecting housing unit 20 a which for guiding an air flow generatedby the fan 66 a delimits the fan receptacle region 68 a is configured soas to be funnel-shaped about the rotation axis 24 a of the driveshaft 26a of the drive device 14 a. The fan receptacle region 68 a, proceedingfrom the plane which is perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a and inwhich the additional fixing elements 150 a, 152 a are disposed, narrowsin particular along the rotation axis 24 a in the direction of thesanding pad 132 a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a of the connectinghousing unit 20 a in the assembly plane 50 a parallel to the rotationaxis 24 a at least partially surrounds the fan 66 a. In particular, theprimary shells 46 a, 48 a surround the fan 66 a, in particular the bladeassembly of the latter, in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 24a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a comprise in particular at least onebase portion 180 a which is disposed between the fan 66 a and thesanding pad 132 a. The connecting housing unit 20 a has an air inlet 74a. The air inlet 74 a is preferably disposed in the base portion 180 aof the primary shells 46 a, 48 a. The base portion 180 a has inparticular a base surface which faces the fan 66 a and which runs so asto be at least substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Amaximum transverse extent of the base surface perpendicular to therotation axis 24 a is in particular smaller than a maximum transverseextent of the fan 66 a perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Thesanding pad holder 156 a protrudes in particular through the air inlet74 a, in particular without contacting the primary shells 46 a, 48 a.The eccentric bearing 158 a, the transmission element 58 a and/or theeccentric are/is preferably disposed so as to be at least substantiallyflush with the base portion 180 a of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a, orare disposed so as to be set back relative to the base portion 180 a inthe direction of the drive device 14 a.

The internal wall 70 a is segmented in the direction of the rotationaxis 24 a. An outlet opening 78 a of the ejection port 76 a of theconnecting housing unit 20 a, and the air inlet 74 a of the connectinghousing unit 20 a, are disposed in different segments of the internalwall 70 a. The outlet opening 78 a is in particular disposed in anejection segment 182 a of the connecting housing unit 20 a. The internalwall 70 a in the ejection segment 182 a preferably runs so as to be atleast substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Theejection segment 182 a is in particular disposed in the plane having theadditional fixing elements 150 a, 152 a. The connecting housing unit 20a preferably comprises at least one guiding segment 184 a which in thedirection of the rotation axis 24 a is disposed between the ejectionsegment 182 a and the base portion 180 a. The internal wall 70 a in theguiding segment 184 a runs in particular at an acute angle in relationto the rotation axis 24 a. The connecting housing unit 20 a preferablycomprises at least one further guiding segment 186 a which is disposedbetween the guiding segment 184 a and the base portion 180 a. Theinternal wall 70 a in a further guiding segment 186 a in relation to therotation axis 24 a has an angle that is larger than the angle of theguiding segment 184 a in relation to the rotation axis 24 a. Theportions of the ejection segment 182 a, the guiding segment 184 a, thefurther guiding segment 186 a, and the base portion 180 a, and thatportion of one of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a that configures themating face, are in particular configured so as to be integral to oneanother.

The connecting housing unit 20 a has a conical spiral path 72 a which isdisposed on the internal wall 70 a. The spiral path 72 a runs inparticular from the air inlet 74 a of the connecting housing unit 20 ain the direction of the rotation axis 24 a to the ejection port 76 a ofthe connecting housing unit 20 a. The conical spiral path 72 a is inparticular disposed in the guiding segment 184 a. FIG. 6 shows a crosssection through the ejection segment 182 a, said cross section beingperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. The fan receptacle region 68 ais preferably asymmetrically configured. The internal wall 70 a, in aplane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a, by virtue of the spiralpath 72 a in particular has a spacing from the rotation axis 24 a thatdepends on an angular position in terms of the rotation axis 24 a. Theoutlet opening 78 a of the ejection port 76 a, conjointly with theinternal wall 70 a, forms in particular a separation edge 82 a which runso as to be at least substantially parallel to the rotation axis 24 a.The spacing of the internal wall 70 a from the rotation axis 24 a ispreferably at the minimum on the separation edge 82 a. The spacing ofthe internal wall 70 a from the rotation axis 24 a preferablycontinuously increases or remains constant in sections. The spacing ofthe internal wall 70 a from the rotation axis 24 a particularlypreferably increases in a linear manner with a difference in terms of anangle in relation to an angular position of the separation edge 82 a,here illustrated in particular in the clockwise manner. Optionally, thespiral path 72 a is configured in only one of the primary shells 48 a,while the spacing of the guiding segment 184 a in the primary shell 46 ahaving the ejection port 76 a is kept constant in sections. The conicalspiral path 72 a parallel to the rotation axis 24 a preferably has apitch by way of which the spiral path 72 a in at most one rotation,preferably half a rotation, leads from the further guiding segment 186 aup to the outlet opening 78 a. The guiding segment 184 a of the internalwall 70 a that configures the spiral path 72 a, in a plane comprisingthe rotation axis 24, has an angle between 25 and 40°, preferablybetween 30° and 35°, in relation to the rotation axis 24 a.

The spiral path 72 a, in particular the guiding segment 184 a, in aprojection along the rotation axis 24, preferably does not have anyoverlap with the fan 66 a. The further guiding segment 184 a in aprojection along the rotation axis 24, to an extent of more than 50%, inparticular to an extent of more than 75%, preferably to an extent ofmore than 90%, is preferably disposed in the interior of the fan 66 a.The blade assembly of the fan 66 a has a chamfer 86 a (see FIG. 3). Thechamfer 86 a is disposed so as to be transverse to the rotation axis 24a and so as to be at least substantially parallel to the further guidingsegment 186 a of the internal wall 70 a. The internal wall 70 a in thefurther guiding segment 186 a, and in particular the chamfer 86 a, in aplane comprising the rotation axis 24 has an angle between 50° and 70°,in particular between 55° and 65° in relation to the rotation axis 24 a.

A further separation edge 80 a formed by the outlet opening 78 a of theejection port 76 a of the connecting housing unit 20 a runs so as to beat least substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. Thefurther separation edge 80 a separates in particular the ejectionsegment 182 a from the guiding segment 184 a. The further separationedge 80 a in the region of the outlet opening 78 a continues inparticular the spiral path 72 a up to the separation edge 82 a so as tobe at a constant spacing from the rotation axis 24 a. The furtherseparation edge 80 a at a high level along the rotation axis 24 a is inparticular disposed between the base plate of the fan 66 a and theterminal plane of the blade assembly. The separation edge 82 a which isformed by the outlet opening 78 a of the ejection port 76 a of theconnecting housing unit 20 a and which runs so as to be at leastsubstantially parallel to the rotation axis 24 a is configured so as tobe highly tapered and has a curvature radius of less than 10 mm,preferably of less than 3 mm, particularly preferably of less than 2 mm.The curvature radius of the separation edge 82 a lies in particular in aplane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. The curvature radius ofthe separation edge 82 a, in particular independently of an exactshaping of the separation edge 82 a, describes a smallest imaginarycircle which bears on the internal wall 70 a that faces the fan 66 a andon an internal wall of the ejection port 76 a. The tangents bearing onthe internal wall 70 a and the internal wall of the ejection port 76 a,in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a, preferably enclosean angle between 45° and 65°, preferably between 55° and 60°.

The duct longitudinal axis 84 a runs centrically through an ejectionport 76 a and predefines in particular a primary flow direction of airthrough the ejection port 76 a. A projection of the duct longitudinalaxis 84 a along the rotation axis 24 a preferably bears tangentially onan external contour of the fan 66 a. The projection of the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a along the rotation axis 24 a preferably enclosesan angle between 40° and 50°, particularly preferably between 44° and46°, in relation to the assembly plane 50 a. An internal wall of theejection port 76 a that is opposite the separation edge 82 a preferablyextends from the assembly plane 50 a up to an ejection opening of theejection port 76 a, wherein a spacing of this internal wall from therotation axis 24 a in the assembly plane 50 a is adapted to the spacingof the spiral path 72 a and continuously increases in the direction ofthe ejection opening. The duct longitudinal axis 84 a of the ejectionport 76 a of the connecting housing unit 20 a, and a plane perpendicularto the rotation axis 24 a, enclose an acute angle, in particular between15° and 35°, preferably between 20° and 30°. The duct longitudinal axis84 a, in particular proceeding from the outlet opening 78 a, is inclinedin the direction of the rotation axis 24 a away from the sanding device12 a. The ejection port 76 a at the outlet opening 78 a has inparticular a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a. The ejection port 76 a at the ejection openingpreferably has a circular cross section perpendicular to the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a. A protective device 146 a, in particular in theform of webs parallel to the duct longitudinal axis 84 a, for theavoidance of a finger and/or other foreign bodies being introduced intothe ejection port 76 a, is preferably disposed in a portion of theejection port 76 a that has the rectangular cross section.

The material collection device 116 a is in particular disposed on theregion of the ejection port 76 a having the circular cross section. Thematerial collection container 112 a has at least one opening 120 a forfeeding the material into the material collection container 112 a. Theopening 120 a of the material collection container 112 a is disposed inan opening plane 122 a. The opening plane 122 a, at least in a state ofthe material collection device 116 a disposed on the ejection port 76 a,is preferably able to be aligned so as to be at least substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 a. The material collectioncontainer 112 a preferably comprises exactly one opening 120 a in theopening plane 122 a. Alternatively, the material collection device 116 ain the opening plane 122 a comprises a structural element whichsubdivides the opening 120 a into small sub-openings. The containerlongitudinal axis 114 a of the material collection container 112 a ispreferably aligned so as to be at least substantially perpendicular tothe opening plane 122 a. In particular, the material collectioncontainer 112 a has the largest longitudinal extent in the direction ofthe container longitudinal axis 114 a. The material collection container112 a is in particular configured so as to be rotationally symmetricalabout the container longitudinal axis 114 a.

The material collection device 116 a comprises at least one mountingunit 124 a for assembling the material collection container 112 a on thehand-held sanding machine 10 a. The mounting unit 124 a comprises a ductelement 126 a for connecting to the ejection port 76 a of the hand-heldsanding machine 10 a. The duct element 126 a is in particular providedto be disposed concentrically on the ejection port 76 a and in a statedisposed on the ejection port 76 a has the same duct longitudinal axis84 a as the ejection port 76 a. The duct longitudinal axis 84 a of theduct element 126 a, at least in the section plane runningperpendicularly to the opening plane 122 a, is disposed so as to betransverse to the opening plane 122 a of the material collectioncontainer 112 a. The duct longitudinal axis 84 a, in a further sectionplane which is perpendicular to the section plane and to the openingplane 122 a, is disposed transversely to the opening plane 122 a. Theduct longitudinal axis 84 a and the container longitudinal axis 114 aare in particular disposed so as to be skewed. The section plane in aconfiguration shown perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a can be seenin FIG. 6. The further section plane is shown in FIG. 7, said furthersection plane here being in particular illustrated so as to be offsetfrom the container longitudinal axis 114 a. The container longitudinalaxis 114 a, in the state of the material collection device assembled onthe hand-held sanding machine, is able to be disposed so as to be atleast substantially parallel to the assembly plane 50 a, in particularwhereby the container longitudinal axis 114 a is aligned so as to beparallel to the longitudinal axis 92 a. In an alignment of the containerlongitudinal axis 114 a parallel to the longitudinal axis 92 a, thefurther section plane is in particular disposed so as to be parallel tothe assembly plane 50 a. The container longitudinal axis 114 a of thematerial collection container 112 a relative to the assembly plane 50 aencloses an angle which, when added to an angle between the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a and the container longitudinal axis 114 a, formsa total angle between 80° and 100°, particularly preferably of 90°. Theduct longitudinal axis 84 a in the section plane intersects the openingplane 122 a in particular at an angle between 40° and 50°, preferablybetween 44° and 46°. The duct longitudinal axis 84 a in the furthersection plane intersects the opening plane 122 a in particular at anangle between 15° and 30°.

The duct element 126 a is preferably pushed onto the ejection port 76 aalong the duct longitudinal axis 84 a. An internal wall of the ductelement 126 a and/or an external wall of the ejection port 76 apreferably have/has structural elements, for example webs or studs withan interference fit and/or a casing with an elastic material or thelike, for a force-fitting connection between the duct element 126 a andthe ejection port 76 a, said force-fitting connection being inparticular able to be released and established manually. The materialcollection device 116 a is preferably disposed so as to be rotatable onthe ejection port 76 a, in particular rotatable at least with a moderateeffort in terms of force. The moderate effort in terms of force that isrequired for rotating the material collection device 116 a on theejection port 76 a exceeds in particular a weight of the materialcollection device 116 a, in particular in a state of the materialcollection container 112 a in which the latter is filled with materialsubtracted by the sanding device 12 a. The moderate effort in terms offorce is preferably able to be applied using one hand without a tool,said moderate effort in terms of force being in particular less than 200N, preferably less than 125 N, particularly preferably less than 75 N.In particular, the material collection device 116 a remains in a currentrotary position in terms of the ejection port 76 a without any manualactivation. A relative position of the container longitudinal axis 114 ain relation to the rotation axis 24 a and/or in relation to thelongitudinal axis 92 a is modified by rotating the material collectiondevice 116 a about the duct longitudinal axis 84 a. The materialcollection device 116 a is disposed on the ejection port 76 a so as tobe in particular pivotable relative to the drive housing 16 a. As aresult, the material collection device 116 a during a sanding procedurecan be advantageously flexibly aligned such that surfaces which aredifficult to access can also be machined.

The mounting unit 124 a comprises an adapter housing 128 a. The adapterhousing 128 a is configured so as to taper asymmetrically from theopening plane 122 a in the direction of the duct longitudinal axis 84 a.The duct element 126 a protrudes at least partially into the adapterhousing 128 a. The duct element 126 a is in particular configured so asto be rotationally symmetrical in relation to the longitudinal axis 92a. The duct element 126 a is preferably completely embedded in theadapter housing 128 a. The duct element 126 a and the adapter housing128 a are particularly preferably integrally configured. The adapterhousing 128 a preferably has a mounting element for fixing the materialcollection container 112 a on the adapter housing 128 a. The mountingelement is configured as a thread, for example, preferably as anexternal thread. The material collection container 112 a has inparticular an air-permeable container region 168 a for collecting thesubtracted material, and a fastening ring 164 a for a fastening thecontainer region 168 a to the mounting unit 124 a. The fastening ring164 a preferably has a mounting element, for example a thread, inparticular an internal thread, for connecting to the adapter housing 128a. The container region 168 a is preferably fixed to the fastening ring164 a by means of a latching mechanism and/or screw connection 166 a.The fastening ring 164 a delimits in particular the opening 120 a. Thefastening ring 164 a and the adapter housing 128 a are preferablydisposed so as to be at least substantially flush with one another. Theadapter housing 128 a is in particular configured in the form of atruncated cone which sits obliquely on the fastening ring 164 a, thecone axis of said truncated cone being aligned so as to be coaxial withthe duct longitudinal axis 84 a. A radius of a top face of thefrustoconical adapter housing 128 a is preferably identical to anexternal radius of the duct element 126 a.

A maximum adapter longitudinal extent of a portion of the mounting unit124 a that in the direction of the container longitudinal axis 114 aprojects beyond the material collection container 112 a is at leastsubstantially equal to a maximum adapter transverse extent of themounting unit 124 a in the opening plane 122 a. A ratio of the adapterlongitudinal extent to the adapter transverse extent is in particularbetween 50% and 80%, preferably between 60% and 70%. The adapter housing128 a, in particular an inlet opening 130 a of the duct element 126 a,in a projection along the container longitudinal axis 114 a, protrudesin particular at the most slightly beyond the material collectioncontainer 112 a. A projection of the adapter housing 128 a along thecontainer longitudinal axis 114 a lies in particular completely in theinterior of a smallest imaginary square which just completely encloses aprojection of the material collection container 112 a. A maximumdistance of the inlet opening 130 a from the container longitudinal axis114 a is in particular smaller than √2 times an external radius of thematerial collection container 112 a in the opening plane 122 a. In FIG.6, the material collection container 112 a by the section plane isdivided at a ratio of more than 1:4 such that the diameter of thematerial collection container 112 a is not illustrated here, and theadapter housing 128 a in the direction of the sanding device 12 a onlyappears to clearly protrude beyond the material collection container 112a.

The outlet opening of the duct element 126 a occupies a maximum outletopening width between 35% and 55%, in particular between 44% and 47%, ofa maximum opening width of the opening 120 a in the opening plane 122 a.A ratio of an internal diameter of the duct element 126 a in comparisonto the opening width of the opening 120 a is preferably between 35% and60%, preferably between 45% and 55%. The container longitudinal axis 114a preferably runs through an outlet opening of the duct element 126 athat faces the material collection container 112 a. The outlet openingof the duct element 126 a is preferably disposed in a plane which runsso as to be at least substantially perpendicular to the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a and transverse to the opening plane 122 a. Ageometric center of the outlet opening of the duct element 126 a, atleast in the further section plane, is disposed so as to be inparticular offset in relation to the container longitudinal axis 114 a,in particular offset by a value of 10% to 30% of the maximum openingwidth.

The inlet opening 130 a of the duct segment 126 a extends in a planewhich runs so as to be at least substantially perpendicular to the ductlongitudinal axis 84 a and in particular transverse to the opening plane122 a. The inlet opening 130 a encompasses in particular the region ofthe ejection port 76 a having the circular cross section. The ejectionport 76 a preferably protrudes into the duct element 126 a at least upto the container longitudinal axis 114 a. The inlet opening 130 a of theduct element 126 a is disposed so as to be spaced apart from thecontainer longitudinal axis 114 a of the material collection container112 a that runs perpendicularly to the opening plane 122 a.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a method 170 a for assembling the hand-heldsanding machine 10 a. The method 170 a comprises in particular apre-assembly step 172 a. The method 170 a comprises in particular ajoining step 174 a. The method 170 a preferably comprises a primaryshell disposal step 176 a. The method 170 a comprises in particular afixing step 178 a. In the pre-assembly step 172 a, the drive device 14 aand/or the sanding device 12 a are/is pre-assembled, in particularly ina mutually independent manner. In the pre-assembly step 172 a, the drivedevice 14 a is disposed in the drive housing 16 a, in particular in anassembly clamshell of the drive housing 16 a, of the hand-held sandingmachine 10 a. In the joining step 174 a, the transmission element 58 ais preferably press-fitted on the driveshaft 26 a. In the joining step174 a, the sanding device 12 a is preferably screwed to the transmissionelement 58 a. In the primary shell disposal step 176 a, a form fit,parallel to the rotation axis 24 a, between the connecting housing unit20 a and the docking interface 22 a is formed by means of the axialform-fitting element 28 a, 29 a, 30 a, 32 a of the docking interface 22a that is disposed in the fixing plane 27 a. In the primary shelldisposal step 176 a, the connecting housing unit 20 a is disposed on thedocking interface 22 a, so as to encompass the docking interface 22 a inthe fixing plane 27 a perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 a. In theprimary shell disposal step 176 a, the primary shells 46 a, 48 a are inparticular attached to the docking interface 22 a. The mating faces ofthe primary shells 46 a, 48 a are in particular attached to the contactface 52 a, whereby the sanding device 12 a is at least partiallydisposed in the connecting housing unit 20 a. In the primary shelldisposal step 176 a, the socket of the primary shells 46 a, 48 a ispreferably pushed into the fixing recesses 34 a, 36 a of the dockinginterface 22 a. The primary shells 46 a, 48 a are attached to oneanother in particular in the assembly plane 50 a. In the fixing step 178a, the separately configured fixing element 42 a, 44 a is disposed inthe socket disposed in the fixing recess 34 a, 36 a and as a resultpresses the primary shells 46 a, 48 a on to one another and against thedocking interface 22 a, in particular the contact face 52 a. The fixingelements 42 a, 44 a, the additional fixing elements 150 a, 152, andoptionally drive housing fixing elements for connecting the assemblyclamshells of the drive housing 16 a are all preferably assembled on theprimary shells 46 a, 48 a, the docking interface 22 a and/or the drivehousing 16 a from the same direction which is at least substantiallyperpendicular to the assembly plane 50 a.

Further exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are shown in FIGS. 9 to14. The descriptions hereunder and the drawings are substantiallyrestricted to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, whereinreference in terms of identically described components, in particular interms of components with identical reference signs, can in principlealso be made to the drawings and/or the description of the otherexemplary embodiments, in particular those of FIGS. 1 to 8. In order forthe exemplary embodiments to be differentiated, the suffix a is added tothe reference signs of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 8. In theexemplary embodiments of FIGS. 9 to 14, the suffix a is replaced by theletters b to d.

FIG. 9 shows an external view, and FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section,of a hand-held sanding machine 10 b configured as random orbital sander.The hand-held sanding machine 10 b comprises a sanding device 12 b whichis in particular identical to the sanding device 12 a of the previousexemplary embodiment. The hand-held sanding machine 10 b has a drivedevice 14 b, in particular having an electric motor 134 b. The electricmotor 134 b comprises in particular a nominal voltage of 18 Volt. Anelectrical supply interface 136 b of the drive device 14 b, and alongitudinal axis portion 90 b of a drive housing 16 b of the hand-heldsanding machine 10 b, are preferably conceived for receiving an 18 Voltrechargeable battery pack 138 b. The hand-held sanding machine 10 bcomprises an interface device 18 b having a docking interface 22 b andconnecting housing unit 20 b. The connecting housing unit 20 bpreferably has a counterbalance which compensates a torque caused by aweight of the rechargeable battery pack 138 b, in particular so as toavoid tilting of a rotation axis 24 b of the drive device 14 b. Thecounterbalance is preferably disposed on primary shells 46 b, 48 b ofthe connecting housing unit 20 b, in particular integrated in thelatter. Optionally, the primary shells 46 b, 48 b for forming thecounterbalance are made of metal, in particular by means of analuminum-zinc die-casting process. Alternatively, the primary shells 46b, 48 b as the counterbalance have metal deposits in a plastics materialbody. The counterbalance and the electrical supply interface 136 b arein particular disposed on different sides of a plane which isperpendicular to a longitudinal axis 92 b of the hand-held sandingmachine 10 b and which contains the rotation axis 24 b. A portion of theconnecting housing unit 20 b having the counterbalance preferably bearson a docking interface 22 b of the interface device 18 b. The portion ofthe connecting housing unit 20 b having the counterbalance has inparticular a greater wall thickness than a portion of the connectinghousing unit 20 b which is disposed on the side opposite the plane whichis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 92 b and which comprises therotation axis 24 b. The portion of the connecting housing unit 20 bhaving the counterbalance preferably has an external face which facesthe drive housing 16 b and in the direction of the sanding device 12 bis inclined by 15° to 30° in relation to a plane perpendicular to therotation axis 24 b.

In terms of further features of the hand-held sanding machine 10 b,reference is to be made to FIGS. 1 to 8 and the description of saidfigures.

FIG. 11 shows an external view, and FIG. 12 shows a longitudinalsection, of the hand-held sanding machine 10 c. The hand-held sandingmachine 10 c has a drive device 14 c and a drive housing 16 c, bothbeing in particular configured so as to be identical to the drive device14 a and the drive housing 16 a, respectively, of the first exemplaryembodiment. Alternatively, a sanding device 12 c of the hand-heldsanding machine 10 c can also be combined, in particular without anyfurther adaptation, with a drive device and a drive housing 16 c, asshown in the second exemplary embodiment. A sanding pad 132 c of thesanding device 12 c has a diameter, for example, between 70 mm and 80mm, preferably between 77 mm and 78 mm. In a projection along a rotationaxis 24 c of the drive device 14 c, the entire sanding device 12 c andan interface device 18 c of the hand-held sanding machine 10 c inparticular lie in the interior of the drive housing 16 c. A dockinginterface 22 c of the interface device 18 c is in particular configuredso as to be identical to the docking interfaces 22 a, 22 b of thepreceding exemplary embodiments. A connecting housing unit 20 c of theinterface device 18 c is in particular adapted to a height of thesanding device 12 c parallel to the rotation axis 24 c. A maximumtransverse extent of the connecting housing unit 20 c perpendicular tothe rotation axis 24 c is preferably only insignificantly larger thanthe maximum transverse extent of the docking interface 22 c, inparticular larger by only a wall thickness, in particular double thewall thickness, of the connecting housing unit 20 c. A portion of theconnecting housing unit 20 c which runs so as to be at leastsubstantially parallel to the rotation axis 24 c is in particulardisposed directly on the docking interface. Additional fixing elements150 c, 152 c are in particular disposed in a plane which is parallel tothe rotation axis 24 c and which has a contact face 52 c of the dockinginterface 22 c. A transmission element 58 c of the interface device 18 cengages through an optional fan 66 c along the rotation axis. Thetransmission element 58 c for driving the sanding pad 132 c is inparticular configured so as to be integral to an eccentric of thesanding device 12 c. The transmission element 58 c encloses an eccentricbearing 158 c of the sanding device 12 c in particular in a planeperpendicular to the rotation axis 24 c. The eccentric bearing 158 cpreferably encompasses a sanding pad holder 156 c of the sanding device12 c in plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 24 c. The sanding padholder 156 c receives in particular an appendage of the sanding pad 132c in a direction parallel to the rotation axis 24 c.

In terms of further features of the hand-held sanding machine 10 c,reference is to be made to FIGS. 1 to 10 and the description of saidfigures

FIG. 13 shows an external view, and FIG. 14 shows a longitudinalsection, of a hand-held sanding machine 10 d. The hand-held sandingmachine 10 d is in particular configured as an orbital sander. Thehand-held sanding machine 10 d has a drive device 14 d and a drivehousing 16 d, both being in particular configured so as to be identicalto the drive device 14 a and the drive housing 16 a, respectively, ofthe first exemplary embodiment. Alternatively, a sanding device 12 d ofthe hand-held sanding machine 10 d can also be combined, in particularwithout any further adaptation, with a drive device and a drive housingas shown in the second exemplary embodiment. A sanding pad 132 d of thesanding device 12 d is fastened to a connecting housing unit 20 d of aninterface device 18 d of the hand-held sanding machine 10 d inparticular by means of an elastic mounting 160 d. A fan 66 d of thesanding device 12 d is disposed in a fan housing of the sanding device12 d, said fan housing being in particular disposed within theconnecting housing unit 20 d. The elastic mounting 160 d is inparticular disposed between the fan housing and the connecting housingunit 20 d. A transmission element 58 d of the interface device 18 d ispreferably configured so as to be integral to an eccentric of thesanding device 12 d. An eccentric bearing 158 d of the sanding device 12d encompasses in particular the transmission element 58 d in a planeperpendicular to a rotation axis 24 d of the drive device 14 d. Theeccentric bearing 158 d is in particular disposed in a guide ring of thesanding pad 132 d, said guide ring being deflectable by the eccentricbearing 158 d, and is preferably connected in a force-fitting manner tothe guide ring.

In terms of further features of the hand-held sanding machine 10 d,reference is to be made to FIGS. 1 to 12 and the description of saidfigures.

1. A hand-held sanding machine comprising: at least one sanding devicefor receiving or configuring a sanding apparatus, the sanding devicecomprising at least one fan configured to convey away materialsubtracted in a sanding procedure; at least one drive device configuredto drive the sanding device; and at least one connecting housing unitwhich at least partially receives the sanding device, the connectinghousing unit comprising an internal wall that delimits a fan receptacleregion and is configured for guiding an air flow generated by the fan,said internal wall being funnel-shaped about a rotation axis of adriveshaft of the drive device.
 2. The hand-held sanding machineaccording to claim 1, the connecting housing unit further comprising: anair inlet; an ejection port; and a conical spiral path disposed on theinternal wall running inlet in a direction of the rotation axis from theair to the ejection port.
 3. The hand-held sanding machine according toclaim 1, wherein: the connecting housing unit further comprises: anejection port with an outlet opening; and an air inlet; and the internalwall is segmented in a direction of the rotation axis, and the air inletand the outlet opening are disposed in different segments of theinternal wall.
 4. The hand-held sanding machine according to claim 1,wherein the connecting housing unit further comprises an ejection portwith an outlet opening that forms a separation edge, the separation edgerunning at least substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis. 5.The hand-held sanding machine according to claim 1, wherein theconnecting housing unit further comprises an ejection port with anoutlet opening that forms a separation edge, the separation edge runningat least substantially parallel to the rotation axis, the separationedge configured so as to be highly tapered and to have a curvatureradius of less than 10 mm.
 6. The hand-held sanding machine according toclaim 1, wherein at least one segment of the internal wall forms aspiral path that has an angle between 15° and 60° in relation to therotation axis.
 7. The hand-held sanding machine according to claim 1,wherein the connecting housing unit further comprises an ejection porthaving a duct longitudinal axis, the ejection port arranged such thatthe duct longitudinal axis is aligned, in a plane that is perpendicularto the rotation axis, so as to be at an acute angle relative to alongitudinal axis of the drive device.
 8. The hand-held sanding machineaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting housing unit furthercomprises an ejection port having a duct longitudinal axis, the ejectionport arranged such that the duct longitudinal axis and a planeperpendicular to the rotation axis enclose an acute angle.
 9. Thehand-held sanding machine according to claim 1, wherein the connectinghousing unit further comprises at least two primary shells at leastpartially encompassing the fan in an assembly plane that is parallel tothe rotation axis.
 10. The hand-held sanding machine according to claim1, wherein the fan is asymmetrically configured for forming atransmission element of the sanding device.
 11. The hand-held sandingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the fan has a blade assembly witha chamfer disposed so as to be transverse to the rotation axis and atleast substantially parallel to a segment of the internal wall.